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Jokowi praised for meeting with opposition Muslim organization during Idul Fitri
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was lauded for his decision to meet leaders of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), known for its stance against the administration’s policy on national unity, at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday
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Tone down: President Joko Widodo (left, second from top) flanked with several ministers, meet with representatives of the GNPF-MUI led by Bachtiar Nasir on Sunday. The group seeks to ease tensions with the government after orchestrating a series of rallies criticizing the administration during the past year. (JP/Anton Hermansyah) (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was lauded for his decision to meet leaders of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), known for its stance against the administration’s policy on national unity, at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
Accompanied by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, and State Secretary Pratikno, Jokowi met a GNPF-MUI delegation led by Bachtiar Nasir.
Read also: GNPF-MUI seeks to ease tension with President during Idul Fitri meet
Chairman of the President’s Volunteer Forum (Bara JP) Sihol Manullang praised Jokowi for his willingness to meet the Muslim organization, calling the move a call for the people to move on.
“For the sake of the nation, [President] Jokowi is willing to meet, talk and cooperate with anyone,” Sihol told kompas.com.
It is reported that the GNPF-MUI met the President in hopes of easing tensions and make way for a smoother avenue of communication with the administration.
The organization was the mastermind of a string of mass rallies protesting the leadership of former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, using his backgrounds as a Christian of Chinese descent as one of its objections.
Meanwhile, the government has campaigned for unity despite the nation’s diverse races and religions.
Sihol said he hoped the meeting could help the GNPF-MUI understand the president’s way of thinking.
“Hopefully, Jokowi can also gain useful suggestions from the group,” he added. (kuk/ika)
